• Whooping cough is a serious disease caused by bacteria. It is called whooping cough because of the “whoop” heard when a person who has it gasps for breath. Whooping cough is also known as pertussis.
• Whooping cough is spread through the air by coughing and sneezing. It is very contagious.
• Whooping cough can trigger coughing so severe that it results in vomiting and broken ribs. The cough can last for weeks or months. More than half of babies younger than one year old who get whooping cough are hospitalized. Babies are the most likely to die from whooping cough or have complications such as seizures and brain damage.
• Whooping cough is most dangerous for babies, but anyone can become seriously ill from it.
•You can protect yourself (and others) by getting vaccinated.
| Whooping Cough Vaccine Schedule |
| All infants, children, and teens should be vaccinated against whooping cough. The vaccine for infants and children is combined with diphtheria and tetanus vaccine as DTaP. The schedule is 4 doses at 2, 4, 6 and 15–18 months of age. A DTaP booster dose is recommended at 4–6 years. The adolescent and adult vaccine is called Tdap. A dose of Tdap is recommended for all adolescents at 11–12 years of age. Pregnant women need a dose of Tdap in the third trimester of every pregnancy to protect themselves and to transfer pertussis immunity to their newborn infant. Adults who have not had Tdap should get a dose of Tdap to protect themselves, then a Tdap or Td booster every 10 years thereafter. |